diff --git a/src/Orchard.Web/Core/Navigation/Handlers/ContentMenuItemPartHandler.cs b/src/Orchard.Web/Core/Navigation/Handlers/ContentMenuItemPartHandler.cs
index c0a833a11..6bfd7e71a 100644
--- a/src/Orchard.Web/Core/Navigation/Handlers/ContentMenuItemPartHandler.cs
+++ b/src/Orchard.Web/Core/Navigation/Handlers/ContentMenuItemPartHandler.cs
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ namespace Orchard.Core.Navigation.Handlers {
             var contentMenuItemPart = context.ContentItem.As<ContentMenuItemPart>();
             // the display route for the menu item is the one for the referenced content item
             if(contentMenuItemPart != null) {
+
+                // if the content doesn't exist anymore
+                if(contentMenuItemPart.Content == null) {
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 context.Metadata.DisplayRouteValues = _contentManager.GetItemMetadata(contentMenuItemPart.Content).DisplayRouteValues;
             }
         }